Active ray treating device



April 16, 1935. H. M. CREIGHTON ETAL ACTIVE RAY TREATING DEVICE 0 8 3 8 8 01 7| 8 6 8 5 7 w w 5 4 H 2 w m W901; Mm 3 0 z 6 r 6 5 5 7 0 mi :5 m .0 i. 4 4| 1 2 3 o m o 5 00 7 o 1| 6 4 7 1 1| J 8 1| 4 A A v 0 9 fi 5 4 O n 4 r0 4 6 6 5 4 O 0/ 5 a z 6 INVENTORS Harry M. Creighton ""v Edward C. Bemdf ATTORNEYS' April 1935. H, M, CREIGHTON ET AL 1,993,073

ACTIVE RAY TREATING DEVICE Original Filed Oct. 8, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z lNVENTORs Haw M. Cmlgkgkdn "4 Edward C. Bemdi I C 6 g 5 I ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 16, 1935 I ACTIVE RAY TREATmG DEVICE Harry M. Creighton, East Norwalk, and Edward C. Berndt, Norwalk, Conn., assignors to The R. U. V. Engineering Corporation, South Norwalk, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application October 8, 1931, Serial No. 587,573 Renewed September i, 1934 9 Claims. (01. 99-2) This invention comprises improvements in ap- Figure 2 is a, front elevation of the machine paratus for treating substances with ultra-violet shown in. Figure 1 with a cover plate removed rays in such a manner that the substances to illustrate the manner in which the front end treated shall have imparted thereto or acquire of the ultra-violet light is mounted in the maby virtue of such treatment, certain desirable chine. 5

characteristics which are usually those possessed Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the maor induced by the rays utilized for the treatment. chine taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing the Particularly, the invention embodies an improved relationship between a quartz tube and a wiper irradiating apparatus constructed within a closed adapte to W p the Outside Surface thereof housing forming a treating chamber through ge With means for Operating e W p 0 which the substance is adapted to pass a source Figure 4 shows an end view of one of the p of ultra-violet light surrounded by a transparent ing glands of the machine and the manner in tube in combination with means for wiping the which the back end of the mercury vapor lamp surface of the tube to clean of! particles of the is mounted thereon.

5 substance which collect thereon due to the heat Referring now to the above described drawings generated by the lamp and the action of the light in which reference numerals are employed to desrays emanating therefrom. ignate corresponding parts illustrated in the sev- Our present invention is directed to improveeral figures thereof, and particularly to Figures ments in machines such as that illustrated and 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that our machine comdescribed in our copending applications Serial prises a base It adapted to rest upon the floor 20 No. 336,807 filed February 1, 1929 and Serial No. or any suitable mounting and a housing I I, form- 418,027 filed January 2, 1930. ing a treating chamber I! to which the substance One of the objects of our invention is to conto be treated may be conducted by a pipe l3 and struct an active ray treating machine having from which it may be withdrawn, by a pipe revoluble tube wipers mounted in the treating As a matter of fact it is immaterial which of the chamber and adapted to be rotated by gears pipes and I4 is used 88 an inlet and which p p mounted in a removable casing forming a part is used as an outlet for the substance, because of the inlet pipe for supplying substance to the the treatment of substances may be efiective irre- 'machine. spective of the direction in which it is coursed Another object is to provide for operating the through the machine. We prefer however for 30 tube wipers from the outside of the treating reasons which will be mentioned below, to use chamber by means having cooperative portions the pipe l3 as an inlet and the pipe H as an adapted to operate through the inlet opening of outlet. i the treating chamber. The pipe I3 is connected to the treating cham- Another object is to provide for removing the her I! through a casing [5, which is adapted to 5 wipers and the gears by which they are operated fit over and register with an inlet port It, formed so that these parts may be easily cleaned. Anin the upper part of the treating chamber. The other object is to produce a machine in which casing I5 is secured to the housing II by means the course traversed by the substance to be treatof a flange portion I1.

ed is formed in the housing of the machine by The pipe 14 is secured to the housing H by a 40 removable parts. flange 48, corresponding to the flanged portion l1 Other objects and advantages will either beof the casing l5, and is adapted to receive subcome apparent from the description of our instances from the ,treating chamber through a vention or be specifically pointed out hereinoutlet port l9.

45. after- The inside portion of the housing II is pro- Refe 0 t e d aw which form a P vided with an end wall 22 having a circular open- Of Our Specification! ing 23 formed therein. The housing H is flared Figure 1 shows a side elevational view partly outwardly at each end beyond the treating chamin section of our active ray treating machine her I: to form chambers 24 at the front and back wherein tube wipers are mounted in a revolubleof the machine. Doors 25, provided with peep cage carrying a centrally disposed spur gear holes 26, are hinged at the front and back of adapted to be operated by gears mounted in a the machine and adapted tobe locked or fastened casing forming an antechamber disposed at the to the housing in any suitable manner for closing top of the machine outside the treating chamthe chambers 24 to prevent the accumulation of ber. v dust and dirt therein and at the same time permit one to observe the operation of the machine without opening the doors 25.

A cylindrical cage indicated generally by the numeral 21, is rotatably mounted in the housing I I between the wall 22 and a gland 29 secured to the housing, at 29. The gland 29 also serves to close an opening 30, in the housing, through which the cage is inserted into the machine. A spur gear 3I, having an outside diameter equal to that of the cage 21, is formed about a central diameter of the cage and is adapted to extend into the inlet and outlet ports I6 and I9, respectively.

The gland 28 is provided with a circular opening 36, of the same size and shape as the opening 23, which is coaxially disposed at the opposite side of the housing. A tube 3I'is mounted in the wall 22 and gland 29 through the openings 23 and 36 by means of packing rings 39, disposed in counterbored recesses around the openings, and drawn tightly around the ends of tube 31 by means of central portions formed to project inwardly in a manner somewhat similar to truncated cones, are provided with coaxially disposed openings 45 located in the planes occupied by the openings 23 and 36, respectively. A tube 49, having its ends flared outwardly and bent back upon itself to form reversely extending collars 4I integral with the tube 46 and spaced therefrom to form a chamber portion 48 between the tube 49 and the collar 41, is mounted in the supports 43 and 44 by means of packing rings 49 held in position by packing glands 59 and 5|. It will be seen from Figure 1 that plate 44, and the gland 5| to which it is connected, are slightly different in shape than the plate 43 and the gland 59 in order to provide room for mounting a mercury vapor lamp 52, having an enlarged end 59, within the tube 49.

Inasmuch as the mercury vapor lamp, its operating means, its mounting, and the manner in which electric current is supplied thereto, per se, forms no part of our present invention, we shall not describe it other than to say that it is mounted on horizontal supports 54 and 55 mounted on the glands 59 and 5|, respectively. The lamp is equipped, however, with tilting mechanism 59 of any well known type for starting the flow of current or arc through the lamp when it is desired to .illuminate it. 51 indicates a junction box through which electric service wires are brought tothe lamp 52.

It will now be seen that between the frame II of the machine, tube 31, glands 43, 44 and tube 49 is formed achamber 69 independent of the treating chamber I2 and surrounding the lamp 52. A

pipe 6| having threeoutlet openings 92 is provided for conducting a filtering or cooling medium to the chamber 69 at three different points within the chamber. An opening 93 in the chamber 99 to which a pipe 94 is connected provides means for discharging the filtering medium from the chamber and conducting it back to any suitable source of supply, not shown, and from which it may again enter the chamber 59 through the pipe BI, if desired. By providing for the introduction of a filtering or cooling medium into the chamber 69 at three different points, we are able to keep the medium moving and prevent the formation of still pools in the more remote and inaccessible portions of the chamber.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 3, it will be seen that the cage, which has been referred to above, and generally indicated by the numeral 21, is formed by a pair of spaced rings I9 having an inside diameter equal to the,diameter of the openings 23 and 39. Bafiles II, of a width adapted to extend from the circumference of the rings III to a point near the surface of the tube 31 and of a length equal to the length of the treating chamber and adapted to extend parallel to the axis of the machine, are mounted on the rings I to direct the flow of substance through the inlet and outlet openings I6 and I9. These bailles are positioned on the rings III in pairs so as to register with the ends of the inlet and outlet ports I9 and I9 at the top and bottom of the housing respectively. The inner edges of the baffles II are spaced from the tube 31 to permit the passage of substance in proximity to the tube and insure that all portions thereof pass the tube so that the substance is uniformly exposed to the light rays. Wipers I2, provided with means I3 for yieldably pressing them against the tube 31, are mounted between spaced guide plates I4, secured to the rings I0. The gear 3| above referred to, is carried by or formed integral with the bailies II and guide plates I4.

A pinion TI, rotatably mounted in the casing I on a stud I9, is adapted to be rotated by a pinion I9 carried by the shaft 80 also mounted in the casing I5. The shaft 99 is provided with a thrust collar 9| and is packed in the casing I5 by a gland 82 and packing 93.

The number of teeth in the gear 3| is an even multiple of the number of teeth in the pinion I9 so that when the baflies II on the cage 21 are properly located with respect to the openings I9 and I9 the cage 27 may be revolved about the tube and the baflies again positioned properly with respect to the openings by merely counting the number of times the shaft 99 is rotated. In the machine shown in the drawings, the gear 3| has twice as many teeth as the pinion I9 so that when the pinion I9 and shaft 99 are rotated twice the cage 21 will make one complete revolution. The openings l9 and I9, and baffles II on the cage 21, are symmetrically located with respect to one another so that when the wipers are horizontally disposed in the treating chamber I2, the baflles will occupy the position shown in Figure 3. If the cage is rotated through a one-half revolution, the baflles shown in Figure 3 at each side of the opening I9 will be rotated to a position at each side of the opening I9, and the battles at each side of the opening I9 will be moved to a position adjacent the opening I9. To indicate the position of the baffles with respect to the opening when the machine is closed, we provide a fixed point 94 on the casing I5 and an index pointer 95 on the shaft 90 such that when the pointer 95 is brought to register with the point 94, the operator may know that the cage and bailles are properly located with respect to the openings I9 and I9.

An extension shaft 91, connected to the shaft 90 by coupling 99, is mounted for rotation-in a bearing 99 secured to the housing II. The pipe I9 is connected to the casing I5 through a union 99.

It will now be seen that by disconnecting the coupling 99 and union 99, the casing I5 and pinions mounted thereinmay be removed from the machine as a unit when the flange I1 is disconnected from the housing II. be necessary except for cleaning, although at such time it is possible to place the casing I5 in a bath of boiling water to sterilize it. One of the reasons why it is best to use the port I9 as an inlet port is, that if through inadvertence,

This will rarely i the casing l and pinions l1 and 19 are not thoroughly cleaned and substance is contaminated during its passage into the machine, it will be sterilized when it passes the light and afterwards pass directly out of the machine without coming into contact with any parts from which it may again be contaminated.

Each side of the treating chamber 2 is closed by cover plates 95 provided with glass covered peep holes 96 through which the operation of the machine may be observed. I

An important feature of this invention is the production of a machine having batiles and rotatable tube wipers disposed in a treating chamber of small volumetric capacity and providing means for operating said wipers without providing openings in the treating chamber other than the inlet and outlet openings.

It will be seen that machines constructed accordance with our invention provide means for mounting baifles and tube wipers in the treating chamberof the machine whereby the benefits derived from such baflles are not sacrificed by the desirability of having a treating chamber of such a construction that it may be completely and readily opened up for inspection and cleaning. Moreover, in constructing a machine in accordance with our present invention, the interior of the machine may be made free from inaccessible corners and crevices.

While we have described what now appears to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, we donot desire to be limited to the construction shown because, obviously, such construction is susceptible of modification without departing from the spirit of our invention nor the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: v

1. A machine for treating substances with active rays comprising a treating chamber, a transparent tube mounted in said chamber, a source of active rays mounted within the tube, means providing inlet and outlet openings in the chamber through which the substance is adapted to pass to and from the chamber, in combination with wipers mounted in the chamber and adapted to be revolved about the tube by means extending through the inlet opening, means extending through the inlet opening for revolving said wipers, said means comprising pinions mounted in a removable casing located over the inlet opening.

2. A machine for treating substances with active rays comprising a treating chamber, a transparent tube mounted in said chamber, a source of active rays mounted within the tube, means providing inlet and outlet openings in'the chamber through which-the substance is adapted to pass to and from the chamber, and removable means located over the inlet opening, in combination with wipers mounted in the chamber and adapted to be revolved about the tube; and mechanism supported in said treating chamber and removable means, comprising portions cooperatively disposed within the inlet opening to revolve said wipers.

3. A machine for treating substances with active rays comprising a treating chamber, a transparent tube mounted in said chamber, a source of active rays mounted within the tube, means providing inlet and outlet openings in the chamber through which the substance is adapted to pass to and from the chamber, in combination with removable baflies in the chamber adapted to direct the substance being treated to a point near the tube, a wiper adapted to be yieldably pressed against the surface of the tube; and means for revolving the wiper about the tube to wipe a surface thereof without removing the baifles.

4. A machine for treating substances with active rays comprising a treating chamber, a transparent tube mounted in said chamber, a source of active rays mounted within the tube, inlet and outlet means in the chamber having openings through which the substance is adapted to pass to and from the chamber, in combination with a cage mounted in the chamber and adapted to be revolved about the tube; said cage comprising baiiles parallel to the axis of the tube and adapted to be respectively positioned at a point adjacent each side of the inlet and outlet means, and a pair of tube wipers adapted to be yieldably pressed against the surface of the tube; and means for revolving said cage to wipe the surface of the tube.

5. A machine for treating substances with active rays comprising a treating chamber, a transparent tube mounted in said chamber, a source of active rays mounted within the tube, inlet and outlet means in the chamber having openings through which the substance is adapted to pass to and from the chamber, in combination with a cage mounted in the chamber and adapted to tube, means for revolving said cage to wipe thesurface of the tube, and indexing means for determining the position of the cage and-battles with respect to the inlet and outlet means.

6. A machine for treating substances with active rays comprising an ultra-violet lamp mounted in a treating chamber, a transparent tube rigidly mounted in said chamber surrounding the lamp, inlet and outlet means having openings through which substance is adapted to pass to and from the chamber, in combination with a ed to extend into the inlet opening, a casing mounted over the inlet opening, a pinion mount-- ed in said casing and extending into the inlet opening meshing with said gear, and means for rotating said pinion.

7. A machine for treating substances with active rays comprising a treating chamber, a transparent tube mounted in said chamber, a source of active rays mounted within the tube, means providing inlet and outlet openings in the cham-' ber through which the substance is adapted to pass to and from the chamber, in combination with removable baflles in the chamber adapted to direct the substance being treated to a point near the tube, a wiper adapted to wipe the surface of the tube; and means for revolving the wiper about the tube to wipe a surface thereof without removing the baiiies.

8. A machine for treating substances with active rays comprising a treating chamber, a transparent tube mounted in said chamber, a source of active rays mounted within the tube, inlet and outlet means in the chamber having openings through which the substance is adapted to pass to and from the chamber, in combination with a cage mounted in the chamber and adapted to be revolved about the tube; said cage comprising bailles parallel to the axis of the tube and adapted to be respectively positioned at a point adjacent each side of the inlet and outlet means, and a pair of tube wipers adapted to wipe the surface oi the tube; and means for revolving said cage to wipe the surface of the tube.

9. A machine for treating substances with active rays comprising a treating chamber, a transparent tube mounted in said chamber, a source oi active rays mounted within the tube, inlet and outlet means in the chamber having openings through which the substance is adapted to pass to and from the chamber, in combination with a cage mounted in the chamber and adapted to be revolved about the tube; said cage comprising i'our spaced baines parallel to the axis of the tube and adapted to be respectively positioned at a point adjacent each side of the inlet and outlet means, and a pair of tube wipers adapted to wipe the surface of the tube, means for revolving said cage to wipe the surface of the tube, and indexing means for determining the position of the cage and battles with respect to the inlet and outlet means.

HARRY M. CREIGH'DON.

EDWARD C.- BERNDT. 

